[Glenn Wright]

This is Tacitus’ description of Petronius Arbiter’s “tastefully accomplished suicide,” mentioned in my introduction to the excerpt from the Satyricon . Tacitus clearly had mixed feelings about Petronius, and I found it interesting to watch him try to be fair to someone he clearly dislikes. So much for Tacitus’ vaunted impartiality.

Annals, 16.18-19
by Publius Cornelius Tacitus

18

About Gaius Petronius, a few additional points must be recalled. He passed his days in sleep and his nights in the duties and entertainments of life. As hard work had raised others to fame, so laziness had promoted him. He was not considered a carouser and spendthrift, like most who exhaust their wealth, but rather he was thought to be learned in matters of luxury. And what he said and did were so unrestrained and made him seem so careless that his popularity only increased under the guise of candor. Nevertheless, as proconsul of Bithynia and as consul-elect, he showed himself to be vigorous and equal to the task. Then, rolling back into vices, or the imitation of vices, he was adopted into the small circle of Nero’s intimates as a referee of elegance, while the emperor thought that nothing was delightful and opulent unless Petronius recommended it to him. This provoked the envy of Tigellinus, as if against a rival and as one who thought himself more knowledgeable about pleasures. Therefore he played upon the cruelty of the emperor, to which the rest of his passions were subordinate, charging Petronius with friendship toward Scaevinus, having bribed a slave to provide proof, denying Petronius a means of defense and causing the greater part of his household to be dragged away in chains.

19

By chance in those days, the emperor was heading for Campania and Petronius, having gone as far as Cumae, was detained there. He no longer hesitated in fear or hope. Nevertheless he did not throw away his life rashly, but his veins having been slashed, he bound them up as he pleased and opened them again, conversing with friends, not about serious matters or those topics from which he might seek the glory of a reputation for integrity. He listened as they discussed nothing about the immortality of the soul and the consolations of wise men, but rather sang light-hearted songs and recited simple poems. Some of his slaves he designated for generous bequests, others for floggings. He went to feasts, indulged in sleep, so that although his death was compelled, it might seem to be natural. Not even in his will did he , like many of those facing death, fawn upon Nero or Tigellinus or some other powerful person, but wrote out at length the shameful outrages of the emperor, including the names of his catamites and women and their innovations in defilement, and sent it under seal to Nero. He broke his signet ring so that afterwards it might not be used to endanger others.
————————
Edits:
§18L4-5 : presented him as being so careless that they only increased his popularity > made him seem so careless that his popularity only increased
§18L7 : the circle of those intimates of Nero > the small circle of Nero’s intimates
§18L8: approved of > recommended
§18L8 : caused > provoked
§18L9 : more capable in the knowledge of > more knowledgeable about
§18L10 : to which the rest of his passions yielded > to which the rest of his passions were subordinate
§18L11 : taking away his defense > denying Petronius a means of defense
§19L2 : He no longer bore the hesitation of fear or hope. > He no longer hesitated in fear or hope.
§19L4 : he might seek the glory of integrity > he might seek the glory of a reputation for integrity.
§19L5-6 : but rather light-hearted songs and simple poems > but rather sang light-hearted songs and recited simple poems
§19L7-8 : Not even in his will, like many of those facing death, did he fawn upon Nero > Not even in his will did he, like many of those facing death, fawn upon Nero
§19L11 : to create danger for > to endanger


Original Latin (from the Perseus Project)

Annales
Liber XVI, xviii-xix
P. Corneli Taciti

De C. Petronius pauca supra repetenda sunt. nam illi dies per somnum, nox officiis et oblectamentis vitae transigebatur; utque alios industria, ita hunc ignavia ad famam protulerat, habebaturque non ganeo et profligator, ut plerique sua haurientium, sed eruditio luxu. ac dicta factaque eius quanto solutiora et quandam sui negligentiam praeferentia, tanto gratius in speciem simplicitatis accipiebantur. proconsul tamen Bithyniae et mox consul vigentem se ac parem negotiis ostendit. dein revolutus ad vitia seu vitiorum imitatione inter paucos familiarium Neroni adsumptus est, elegantiae arbiter, dum nihil amoenum et molle adfluentia putat, nisi quod ei Petronius adprobavisset. unde invidia Tigellinus quasi adversus aemulum et scientia voluptatem potiorem. ergo crudelitatem principis, cui ceterae libidines cedebant, adgreditur, amicitiam Scaevini Petronio obiectans, corrupto ad indicium servo ademptaque defensione et maiore parte familiae in vincla rapta.

19

Forte illis diebus Campaniam petiverat Caesar, et Cumas usque progressus Petronius illic attinebatur; nec tulit ultra timoris aut spei moras. neque tamen praeceps vitam expulit, sed incisas venas, ut libitum, obligatas aperire rursum et adloqui amicos, non per seria aut quibus gloriam constantiae peteret. audiebatque referentis nihil de immortalitate animae et sapientium placitis, sed levia carmina et facilis versus. servorum alios largitione, quosdam verberibus adfecit. iniit epulas, somno indulsit, ut quamquam coacta mors fortuitae similis esset. ne codicillis quidem, quod plerique pereuntium, Neronem aut Tigellinum aut quem alium potentium adulatus est, sed flagitia principis sub nominibus exolentorum feminarumque et novitatem cuiusque stupri perscripsit atque obsignata misit Neroni. fregitque anulum ne mox usui esset ad facienda pericula.



Crib

Annals, 16.18-19
by Publius Cornelius Tacitus

18

About Gaius Petronius, a few additional things must be reported/remembered. For he passed the day is sleep, the night in the duties and entertainments of life. As hard work had raised others to fame, so laziness had promoted him, and he was considered not to be a carouser and spendthrift, like most who drain their substance, but educated in matters of luxury. And what he said and did were so unrestrained and presented him as so careless that they were received as even more pleasing under the appearance of candor. Nevertheless, as proconsul of Bithynia and as consul elect, he showed himself to be vigorous and equal to the task. Then, rolling back into vices or the imitation of vices, he was adopted into the few who were intimates of Nero, as a referee/critic of elegance, while the emperor thought that nothing was delightful and opulent unless Petronius would have approved of it to him. From this came the envy of Tigellinus, as if against a rival and as one more capable in the knowledge of pleasures. Therefore he played upon the cruelty of the prince, to which the rest of his passions yielded, charging Petronius with friendship toward Scaevinus, having bribed a slave to provide proof, taking away/stealing his defense and dragging away the greater part of his household in chains.

19

By chance in those days the emperor was heading for Campania, and Petronius, having gone as far as Cumae, was detained there. He no longer bore the hesitation of fear or hope. Nevertheless, he did not throw away his life rashly, but his veins having been slashed, as he pleased, he bound them up and opened them again, conversing with friends, not about serious matters or those topics from which he might seek the glory of integrity. He listened as they discussed nothing about the immortality of the soul or the consolations of the wise men, but light-hearted songs and simple poems. Some of his slaves he designated for generous bequests, others for floggings. He went to feasts, indulged in sleep, so that although death was compelled, it might seem to be natural. Not even in his will, like many of those perishing, did he fawn upon Nero or Tigellinus or some other of the powerful persons, but he wrote out at length the shameful outrages of the prince, including the names of his catamites and women and their innovations in defilement and sent it under seal to Nero. He broke his signet ring so that afterwards it might not be used to create dangers for others

[Carl Copeland]

Hi, Glenn. I’ve been run ragged in recent days renewing my residence status, but I feel a commitment to the Translation Forum, so here goes:

Some of the wording seems unnatural to me, but I have no way of knowing whether you’re translating too literally or expressing unusual Latin in equally unusual English. Here are a few things that caught my attention:

What he said and did were so unrestrained and presented him as being so careless that they only increased his popularity -> made him seem? Also, “What” as a plural sounds odd to me, though of course it’s logically plural, so I won’t make a federal case out of it.

rolling back into vices -> sinking?

he was adopted into the circle of those intimates of Nero -> into the narrow circle of intimates? “Those” implies some unspecified subset of Nero’s intimates and misses the crib’s “few.”

referee of elegance -> arbiter?

Petronius approved of it to him -> can be deleted with no loss of meaning

This caused the envy of Tigellinus -> aroused?

one who thought himself more capable in the knowledge of pleasures-> ?

he played upon the cruelty of the emperor, to which the rest of his passions yielded -> It’s tempting to identify “his” with “he.” You might consider something along the lines of the Perseus Project’s “to which all other lusts were secondary.”

taking away his defense -> ?

He no longer bore the hesitation of fear -> ?

he might seek the glory of integrity -> ?

He listened as they discussed … light-hearted songs and simple poems. -> Were they discussing light-hearted songs or listening to them, as the Perseus Project translation has it?

Not even in his will, like many of those facing death, did he fawn upon Nero -> There’s some grammatical ambiguity here. It could mean that he, like many facing death, didn’t fawn on Nero.

He broke his signet ring so that afterwards it might not be used to create danger for others. -> I like the Perseus Project’s “endanger”—or maybe “put others in danger.”

A fascinating history. Thanks, Glenn!

[Glenn Wright]

Hi, Carl—

Thanks for taking the time to offer detailed and helpful critiques when you have so much else going on. I hope you get everything sorted out soon with your paperwork and promise not to post any more translations for the immediate future.

Originally Posted by Carl Copeland

Hi, Glenn. I’ve been run ragged in recent days renewing my residence status, but I feel a commitment to the Translation Forum, so here goes:

What he said and did were so unrestrained and presented him as being so careless that they only increased his popularity -> made him seem? Also, “What” as a plural sounds odd to me, though of course it’s logically plural, so I won’t make a federal case out of it. I condensed and clarified this.

rolling back into vices -> sinking? “Revolutus” literally means “having been rolled back.” Ovid used this participle to describe Eurydice falling back into the underworld when Orpheus looked back at her in his Metamorphoses. I liked “rolled back [into vices]” because it seemed to suggest an involuntary movement and it seemed like something an obese, swinish, and self-indulgent person might do.

he was adopted into the circle of those intimates of Nero -> into the narrow circle of intimates? “Those” implies some unspecified subset of Nero’s intimates and misses the crib’s “few.” Fixed.

referee of elegance -> arbiter? I like “referee” because it suggests that there was a game being contested for the emperor’s favor. The conflict between Petronius and Tigellinus supports this.

Petronius approved of it to him -> can be deleted with no loss of meaning Fixed.

This caused the envy of Tigellinus -> aroused? Fixed.

one who thought himself more capable in the knowledge of pleasures-> ? Fixed.

he played upon the cruelty of the emperor, to which the rest of his passions yielded -> It’s tempting to identify “his” with “he.” You might consider something along the lines of the Perseus Project’s “to which all other lusts were secondary.” Fixed.

taking away his defense -> ? ”Adempta” can mean “having been removed/taken away/ stolen/denied.” The sense here is that the bribed slave’s testimony contradicts the defense that Petronius would have had to deny a friendship with Nero’s enemy, Scaevinus.

He no longer bore the hesitation of fear -> ? Fixed

he might seek the glory of integrity -> ? The sense here is that Petronius chose not to discuss weighty philosophical matters that might have made him seem like Socrates about to drink the hemlock. Instead he got a bunch of his buddies to come and cheer him up with singing and poetry. Apparently they had enough to drink that they thought it would be fun to write out a detailed account of Nero’s depravities.

He listened as they discussed … light-hearted songs and simple poems. -> Were they discussing light-hearted songs or listening to them, as the Perseus Project translation has it? Since light-hearted songs and simple poems would not have provided much material for discussion, I can only assume that they were singing the songs and reciting the poems.

Not even in his will, like many of those facing death, did he fawn upon Nero -> There’s some grammatical ambiguity here. It could mean that he, like many facing death, didn’t fawn on Nero.I think this was a dangling modifier problem. I moved the modifier next to “he,” which it properly modifies.

He broke his signet ring so that afterwards it might not be used to create danger for others. -> I like the Perseus Project’s “endanger”—or maybe “put others in danger.” Fixed.

Thanks again, Carl! I always learn a lot from your comments.

Glenn